A Comparison of Special Education and General Education Students Attitudes toward Music

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ABSTRACT

The music education in USA could be followed back to the era of the colonial times. Amongst the Native Americans before to African and European settlement, music education was oral. Music education is still a part of curriculum in America, and for some years, it has been made a part of the special education for special students. This research has an aim to analyze the difference of attitude of special education students and general education students. In this regards, a number of researchers have detected a discouraging trend in attitudes of the students' toward music education, in general. The general observation has been a decline in positive attitude toward musical experiences among general music students with each increasing grade level. American elementary music education has, in some ways, closely paralleled the development of this country. Music education is a small, specialized field, it has much to offer disability studies. The research Hypothesis was; there is a significant difference in the attitude of special education students and general education students. In order to determine the difference between special and general education students the researcher opted for quantitative primary methodology. Survey analysis was conducted through email. 98 respondents were selected. Out of which 67 were general education students and 31 are special education students, as it is a strategy used for sample selection. Overall result showed that it can be observed that various statistical test are applied to the data, from which it is found that mean value of, communication is considered as the most important aspect in determining the significance of music in both special and general education, is high as compared to other variables; however, the deviation in the responses of the students is also high.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTII

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY1

Design of the study1

The Research Process2

Research Philosophy3

Role of the Researcher5

Researcher Bias5

Quantitative Research6

Primary Data7

Data Collection and Analysis9

Selection of Participants: Roselle New Jersey9

Roselle (NJ)10

Education11

Research Approach11

Instrument13

Likert Scale13

Survey Questionnaire13

Design and Application of Questionnaires14

Self-Completion Questionnaires15

Questionnaire Responses15

Literature Search16

Ethical Concerns16

Validity17

Confidentiality18

Limitations of Research18

Summary19

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION20

Analysis of Survey Questionnaire20

Sample Size20

Questionnaire analysis21

Q1: Music consumes much of your time throughout the day and music plays a pivotal role in reflecting your inner feelings21

Question 02: The general observation has been a decline in positive attitude toward musical experiences among general music students with each increasing grade level.22

Q3: The principal objective of message-based persuasion is to either change or reinforce existing attitudes of students of special and general education.23

Figure 3: General education students - Students Attitude towards Music23

Q4: Communication is considered as the most important aspect in determining the significance of music in both special and general education.24

Q5: Music can also play a role in managing mood, influencing choices and changing attitudes among students of general education.25

Q6: Music study can enhance student leadership, reading and mathematical skills among general students26

Q7: Music study can enhance student leadership, reading and mathematical skills among special students.27

Q9: The cognitive component of an attitude is often evaluative in context to determine the Special Education and General ...